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Genaral information on “E – field in plate capacit”

With power supply unit
The electric field in the gab between two coplanar and isolated metal plates, that are connected to a power supply, has a homogeneus structure abstaining the peripheral rim (refer the course of the electric flux line).
The corelation between the field strenght E and the plate distance d and the voltage U is:

E= U/d [V/m]

The larger the distance d under a constant voltage U the lower is the field strenght E. From the decrease of the density of the electric flux lines one can see the change of the charge on the plates.

Without power supply unit
The electric field in the gab between two coplanar and isolated metal plates, that are connected to a power supply, has a homogeneus structure abstaining the peripheral rim (refer the course of the electric flux line).
The correlation between the field strenght E and the plate distance d and the voltage U is:

E= U/d [V/m]

After the power supply is disconnected the voltmeter shows the same value as before which surprise. If the distance d is enlarged the voltage increases proportionally. The reason for this is that the charge on the plates keeps constant but the potential is increased.


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Books: Plate capacitor

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